Drafting apparatus



Nov. 1.5, 1938.` A.l LANGsNl-:R

DRAFTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1937 Patented Nov. 15, 41938 BLOM PATENT oFFlcE DRAFTIN G APPARATUS Adolph Langsncr, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Eugene `Dlctzgen Co., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Application January so, i931, semi No. 123,255

8 Claims.

My invention relates in general to drafting equipment and has more particular reference to parallel line apparatus, more especially adapted for use on drawing boards or tables.

An important object of the invention is to provide simplied parallel line equipment for drafting tables and the like; av-further object being to provide readily operable means for adjusting the line ruling elements to any desired angularity with respect to the drawing table.

Another important object is to provide par-V allel line ruling equipment including a head adapted to move freely throughout the area oi' the drawing table and guiding means for holding the head at all times in a predetermined angular relationship with respect to the table, and a com bined holder and clamp for securing the ruling means in adjusted angular position with respect to the head and also affording means for shifting the head with respect to the drawing table.

Another important object is to provideruling equipment of the character mentioned, including cooperating scale and index means on the head and ruling element to indicate the adjusted angularity of the parts, wherein the scale means includes a protractor scale adapted to indicate angles between zero and 90 degrees, the scale being graduated so as to emphasize most frequently used angles. as zero, 30, 45, 60 and 90 degree angles.

Another important object is to provide equipment of the character mentioned, wherein the line ruling element and the head are formed as stampings, preferably of sheet metal, the parts being connected together for relative rotation, preferably by means of a single, centrally located rivet; a further object being to provide a single, knob-controlled element operable as a clamp to secure the line ruling element and the head together in relatively adjusted angular position and operable also to shift therhead and the ruling element upon the drawing table; a still furtherobject being to form the ruling element with a slot of circular configuration and to arrange the clamp as a bolt having a portion extending in said slot and also through a perforation in the head and adapted, in combination with a knob-like nut, to provide the combined clamping and head fastening element.

The ruling equipment of the present invention is particularly adapted for mounting on a drawing board and I have provided pantographic means adapted to be fastened on a board for holding the head against relative rotation with respect to the board; and it is a further object of my present invention to provide improved clamp means for securing paper or other sheetlike drafting material on the board in position to be ruled by means of my parallel line apparatus. To this end it is an important object of the invention to provide a fitting adapted to extend on opposite sides of a drafting board to provide a board support or foot on one side and a sheet clip on the other; a further object being to form the combined board support and sheet clip as a bolt having a head on one side of the board and a stem projecting on the other side in position to receive a spring element secured thereon by means of a nut threaded on said projecting stem; a still further object of the in vention being to utilize parts adapted for fabrication in automatic screw machines.

Another important object is to form the combined board support and sheet clip as a headed Y stud adapted for mounting in an edge of a drawing board, lwith the head and stem of the stud projecting on opposite sides of the board, and to form the head with a necked portion so that the same may be covered with a resilient, preferably rubber, cap, the cap having portions fitting the necked portions of the stud to thereby retain the cap in place to form a resilient foot for the board.

These and numerous other important objects, advantages and inherent functions and purposes of the invention willy become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a .preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of drafting equipment embodying my present invention, as applied on a drawing board;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial plane view of a line ruling element forming a part of the drafting equipment;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of parts of the equipment shown in perspective; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Figure 4.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawing parallel line apparatus adapted for use on a drawing board or table Il, the parallel line apparatus including a line drawing element I3, a support head I5 on which the ruling eletra` ment I3 is rotatable, and means I1 for holding the head I5 against relative rotation with respect to the drawing board or table, while permitting free movement thereof substantially over the entire area of the table.

'I'he guiding means I1 may be of any suitable or preferred character, and for the purpose of illustrating the present invention I have shown the same as a. pantographic structure including parallel links I9 pivoted at one end, as at 2I, at spaced points on the head I5, the arms I9 being pivotally connected at their opposite ends, as at 23, upon a link 25. The pantograph I1 also includesI the parallel arms 21, the ends of which are pivoted, as at 23, at spaced points 4in the link 25, the opposite ends of the arms 21 being in turn pivoted, as at 3|, upon a bracket 33, which may be secured to the drafting table II, preferably at a corner thereof.

The head I5 preferably comprises a sheet metal stamping having a generally circular portion 35 formed with a central opening 31. 'I'he edge of the portion 35 is preferably bevelled, as at 35, and provided with an index mark 4I comprising a line extending radially of the center of the perforation 31. On the side of the portion 35 diametrically opposite from the index II, the head I5 is formed with an offset flange portion 43 providing means on which the arms I3 may be pivotally connected to the head.

'I'he line ruling element I3 also preferably comprises a sheet metal stamping having a circular mounting portion 45 provided with a central opening 41 which may be, and preferably is, of size similar to the opening 31 of the head. The elements I3 and I5 are pivotally connected together, preferably by means of an annular rivet 49, the same comprising a cylinder of sheet metal adapted to fit within the alined openings 31 and 41, the opposite end edges of the cylinder being peened over, as shown clearly in Figure 3, upon the oppositely facing top surface of the head I5 and bottom surface of the element I3. The head and ruling element are thus joined for relative angular movement about the central axis of the alined openings 31 and 41, the head I5 overlying the mounting portions I5 of the line ruling element I3. .The mounting portions 45 have marginal edges projecting outwardly of the preferably circular edge of the supporting head I5 to provide a scale-carrying area on which is or may be formed a protractor scale 5I closely adjacent the marginal edge of the head I5,.and in position to cooperate with the index mark 4I thereon, said protractor scale 5I preferably extending from a central zero graduation in opposite directions with respect to the central axis of rotation of the elements I3 and I5 through at least ninety degrecs, said scale being preferably graduated at ten-degree intervals and having frequently used graduations, such as 30 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees, as well as the graduation representing zero, indicated by means of prominent indicia. Both sections of the scale also preferably include a distinctive li-degree graduation, all as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing. It is of course Within the contemplation of my present invention to form the scale 5I at the edge of the head I5, as for example by registration of the zero graduation with the position-occupied by the index mark 4I in the illustrated embodiment, in which case the index mark may be transferred to the line ruling element I3 in the position occupied by the zero graduation of the scale 5I in the illustrated embodiment. The index mark, however,

may of course be arranged in any preferred location. In applying the scale on the head I5 it may be desirable to bevel the edge portions of the head on which the scale is mounted.

The ruling element I3 also includes projecting portions 53 defining straight edges 55 preferably extending at right angles. The portions 53 may carry scales 51 graduated in terms of linear measurement along said straight edges, if desired. It will be noted, also, that one of the straight edges extends parallel with a line passing through the center of rotation of the parts I3 and I5 and the zero graduation of the scale 5I, while the other straight edge 55 is parallel with a line extending through said axis of rotation and the 90-degree graduations of the scale 5I. I'hus by adjusting the element I3 on the head I5 to register the index mark II with the zero graduation of the scale, a horizontal line may be drawn along one straight edge and a vertical line along the other. This may be accomplished for all positions Within the area of the drawing board at which the head is or may be adjusted. Similarly, by turning the element I3 to register any of the graduations of the scale 5I with the index 4I, lines may be drawn along the straight edges at corresponding angles with respect to the horizontal and vertical.

I have provided simplified clamping means 58 for securing the element I3 firmly and quickly in any adjusted position to which it may be set, said clamping means being as easily operable to release the parts for adjustment, and serving also as a convenient handle for moving the head and the ruling element carried therebetween to any desired position within the area of the drawing table. This improved combination clamping and adjusting means 53 comprises a relatively large grasping knob 6I for convenient manipulation, said knob being provided with a threaded bushing 63 for receiving the threaded stem 55 of a bolt 61. This bolt has a preferably fiat, smooth head 39 and is formed preferably with a noncircular shouldered portion intermediate the head 53 and stem 65. 'I'he line ruling element I3 in its mounting portion 45 is or may be formed with a slot 13 of circular configuration, the center of curvature of the slot preferably coinciding with the axis of relative movement of the elements I3 and I5. This slot 13 preferably subtends slightly more than 180 degrees with respect to said axis of rotation, and is disposed in the mounting portion 45 opposite from the scale 5I. The head I5 also is or may be provided with a non-circular opening 15 formed between the opening 31 and the flange 43 at a distance from the axis of relative rotation of the parts I3 and I5 equal to the radius of curvature of the slot 13. The bolt 81 is assembled with its head 69 underlying the mounting portions 45, the non-circular portion 1I of the bolt extending through the slot 13 and through the opening 15, which seats said non-circular portion 1I in order to prevent relative rotation of the bolt with respect to the head.

The stem 55 projects upwardly of the head I5 in position to threadingly receive the knob 5I so that by tightening the knob upon the bolt 61 the parts I3 and I5 may be clamped firmly together by and between the bolt head 69 and the knob BI. When so clamped, the knob may be utilized as a handle to shift the head and the ruling element I3 in adjusted position to any desired position within the area of the drawing table. To release the parts for adjustment it is merely necessary to turn the knob 6I fractionally to loosen the clamp and permit the element I3 to move on the head as by grasping one of the projecting portions 53. After adjustment the clamp may be easily and quickly reset.

As heretofore stated, the parallel line ruling equipment is adapted for use on a drawing table and. is especially well suited for use on drawing boards to provide easily operable, inexpensive means for ruling .paper and other sheet-like drawing material which may be fastened on the board, and I have'also provided improved clip means 'll for securing said material on the board or table Il in position to be ruled. These clips are preferably mounted on the board along one edge thereof 'and provide resilient supporting legs, by means of which the board may be held on a fiat base, to thereby facilitate drawing operations. To this end the clip means 'I1 comprises a stud 19 having a head 8| formed with a restricted 'neck 83 and a stem, the stud being adapted for assembly on the board with its stem extending through a perforation 85 in the board and its head 8| projecting on the lower side of the board. The stem of the stud projects from the upper surface of the board and is held in place by means of a nut 81. Above the nut 81 the stem receives a clip element 89, preferably comprising a strip of sheet metal having a perforation for receiving the head, and extending thence outwardly of the stud and having a preferably curled end 9| for engagement with the sheet to be held. 'I'he clip 89 is secured in clamping position by means of a thumb nut 93 threaded on the end of the stud, the clip 89 being so formed that upon tightening the nut 93 on the stud, the end 9| of the clip will be yieldingly pressed toward and upon the upper surface of the board I i to thereby firmly clip the sheet in place. By loosening the nut 93 the sheet will be released.

I prefer also to provide a resilient cap 55 on the stud head 8l, said cap having a central chamber for receiving said head and an opening defined by an integral inwardly extending annular ilange 91 adapted to engage with the necked portion 83 of the stud head whereby to firmly hold the cap 95 in place thereon, Such an ar-v rangement constitutes the stud head 8| as a resilient foot for supporting the drawing board.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificingv its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In drafting apparatus comprising a ruling guide member having a mounting portion, a holder member having a plate-like portion for sup-` porting said rulling guide member, and means connecting said plate-like and mounting portions together for relative angular movement of said ruling guide and holder members about an axis of rotation, the combination with said plate-like and mounting portions of clamping means for securing the ruling guide and holder members in adjustedy relative angular'position, said clamping means comprising a stud carried by and extending through said plate-like and mounting portions, and a cooperating, manually turnable head having threaded engagement with said stud and comprising a knob of substantial size adapted for convenient grasping in shifting the holder and ruling guide members within a definite drafting area, said mounting portion being formed with a curved slot having a center of curvature coinciding with said axis of rotation, and said platelike portion overlying and concealing said curved slot and having a stud opening in said plate-like portion spaced from said axis of rotation in position to register with said curved slot, said stud having a head underlying said mounting portion and a stem extending in said slot and said stud opening and carrying said knob upwardly of said plate-like portion.

2. In drafting apparatus comprising a ruling guide member having a mounting portion, a holder member having a plate-like portion for supporting said ruling guide member, and means connecting said plate-like and mounting portions together for relative angular movement of said ruling guide and holder members about an axis of rotation, the combination with said plate-like and mounting portions of clamping means for securing the ruling guide and holder members in adjusted relative angular position, said clamping means comprising a stud carried by and extending through said plate-like and mounting portions, and a cooperating, manually turnable head having threaded engagement with said stud and comprising a knob of substantial size adapted for convenient grasping in shifting the holder and ruling guide members within a definite drafting area, said mounting portion being formed With a curved slot having a center of curvature coinciding with said axis of rotation, and said plate-litre portion overlying and concealing said. curved slot and having a stud opening in said plate-like portion spacedn from said axis of rotation in position to register with said curved slot, said stud having a head underlying said mounting portion and a stem extending in said slot and said stud opening and carrying said knob upwardly of said platelike portion, said stud comprising a bearing portion formed with oppositely facing, flattened side surfaces adapted to engage the opposi sides of said curved slot to guide the stud in moving along the curved slot and to hold the stud from turning on its axis when said knob is turned thereon in releasing or tightening said clamping means.

3. In drafting apparatus comprising a ruling guide member having a mounting portion, a holder member having a plate-like portion for supporting said ruling guide member, and means connecting said plate-like and mounting portions together for relative angular movement of said ruling guide and holder members about an axis of rotation, the combination with said plate-like vand mounting portions of clamping means for securing the ruling guide and holder members in adjusted relative angular position, said clamping means comprising a stud carried by and extending through said plate-like and mounting portions, and a cooperating, manually turnable head having threaded engagement with said stud and comprising a knob of substantial size adapted for convenient grasp-ing in shifting the holder and ruling guide members within a denite'drafting area, said mounting portion being formed with a curved slot havinga center of curvature coinciding with said axis of rotation, and said plate-like portion overlying and concealing said curved slot and having a stud opening in said plate-like portion spaced from said axis of rotationin position to register with said curved slot, said stud having a head underlying said mounting portion and a stem extending in said slot and said stud opening and carrying said knob upwardly of said plate-like portion, said stud comprising a bearing portion formed with oppositely facing, flattened side surfaces adapted to engage the opposite sides of said curved slot to guide the stud in moving alongl the curved slot and to hold the stud from turning on its axis when said knob is turned thereon in releasing or tightening said clamping means, said opening also having ilattened sides to snugly engage the bearing portion oi' said stud.

4. In drafting apparatus comprising a ruling guide member having a mounting portion, a holder member having a plate-like portion for supporting said ruling guide member, and means connecting said plate-like and mounting portions together for relative angular movement of said ruling guide and holder members about an axis of rotation, the combination with said plate-like and mounting portions of clamping means for securing the ruling guide and holder members in portion spaced from said axis of rotation in posi,

tion to register with said curved slot, said stud having a head underlying said mounting portion and a stem extending in said slot and said stud opening and carrying said knob upwardly of said plate-like portion, said plate-like portion having a curved marginal edge and said mounting portion being exposed outwardly of said edge, one of said portions carrying a graduated angularity scale adjacent the curved marginal edge of said plate-like portion and concentric with respect to said axis of rotation, the other member carrying an index at the edge of said plate-like portion opposite said scale whereby to indicate the relative adjusted position of the holder and ruling guide members.

5. In drafting apparatus comprising a rulirig guide member having a mounting portion, a holder member having a plate-like portion for supporting said ruling guide member, and means connecting said plate-like and mounting portions together for relative angular movement of said ruling guide and holder members about an axis of rotation, the combination with said plate-like and mounting portions of clamping means for securing the ruling guide and holder members in adjusted relative angular position, said clamping means comprising a stud carried by and extending through said plate-like and mounting portions, and'a cooperating, manually turnable head having threaded engagement with said stud and comprising a knob of substantial size adapted lfor convenient grasping in shifting the holder and ruling guide members within a definite draftingarea, said mounting portion being formed with a curved slot having a center of curvature coinciding with said axis of rotation, and said plate-like portion overlying and concealing said curved slot and having a stud opening in said'plate-like portion spaced from saidA axis of rotation in position to register with said curved slot, said stud having a head underlying said mounting portion and a stem extending in said slot and said stud opening and carrying said knob upwardly of said plate-like portion, said plate-like portion having a curved marginal edge and said mounting portion being exposed outwardly of' said edge and carrying thereon a graduated angularity scale adjacent the curved edge of said plate-like portion and concentric with respect to said axis of rotation, said plate-like portion carrying an index thereon at the. curved edge thereof adjacent said scale whereby to indicate the relative angularly adjusted position of the holder and ruling guide members.

6. In drafting apparatus comprising a ruling guide member having a mounting portion, a. holder member having a plate-like portion for supporting said ruling guide member, and means connecting said plate-like and mounting por- .tions together for relative angular movement of said ruling guide and holder members about an axis of rotation, the combination with said platelike and mounting portions of clamping means for securing the ruling guide and holder members in adjusted relative angular position, said clamping means comprising a stud carried by and extending through said plate-like and mounting portions, and a cooperating, manually turnable head having threaded engagement with said stud and comprising a knob of substantial size adapted for convenient grasping in shifting the holder and ruling guide members within a deilnite drafting area, said mounting portion being formed with a curved slot having a center of curvature coinciding with said axis of rotation, and said plate-like portion overlying and concealing said curved slot and having a stud opening in said plate-like portion spaced from said axis of rotation in position to register with said curved slot, said stud having a head underlying said mounting portion and a stem extending in said slot and said stud opening and carrying said knob upwardly of said plate-like portion, said plate-like portion having a curved marginal edge and said mounting portion being exposed outwardly of said edge and carrying thereon a graduated angularity scale adjacent the curved edge of said plate-like portion and concentric with respect to said axis of rotation, said plate-like portion carrying an index thereon at the curved edge thereof adjacent said scale whereby to indicate the relative angularly adjusted position of the holder and ruling guide members, said index comprising a mark on said plate-like portion, said mark, the said axis of rotation and the axis of said stud all lying in a common plane.

'7. In drafting apparatus comprising a ruling guide member having a mounting portion, a holder member having a plate-like portion for supporting said ruling guide member, and means connecting said plate-like and mounting portions together for relative angular movement of said ruling guide and-holder members about an axis of rotation, the combination with said platelike and mounting portions of clamping means for securing the ruling guide and holder members in adjusted relative angular position, said clamping means comprising a stud carried by and extending through said plate-like and mounting portions, and a cooperating, manually turnable head having threaded engagement with said stud and comprising a knob of substantial size adapted for convenient grasping in shifting the holder and ruling guide members within a definite drafting area, said mounting portion being formed with a curved slot having a center of curvature coinciding with said axis of rotation, and said plate-like portion overlying and concealing said curved slot and having a stud opening in said plate-like portion spaced from said axis of rotation in position to register with said curved slot,said stud having a head underlying said mounting portion and a stem extending in said slot and said stud opening and carrying said knob upwardly of said plate-like portion, said plate-like portion having a curved marginal `edge and said mounting portion being exposed outwardly of said edge and carrying thereon a graduated angularity scale adjacent the curved edge of said plate-like portion and` concentric with respect to said axis of rotation, said platelike portion carrying an index thereon at the curved'edge thereof 'adjacent said scale wherebyv to indicate the relative angularly adjusted position of the holder and ruling guide members, said index comprising a mark on said plate-like portion on the side of said axis of rotation vertically opposite the studopening.

8. In drafting apparatus comprising a ruling guide member having a mounting portion, a holder member having a plate-like portion for supporting said ruling guide member, and means connecting said plate-like and mounting portions together for relative angular Vmovement of said ruling guide and holderl members about an axis of'rotation, the combination with said plate-like and mounting portions oi' clamping. means for securing' Athe ruling guide and holder members in adjusted relative angular position, said clamping means comprising a stud carried by and extending through said plate-like and mounting portions, and a cooperating, manually turnable head having threaded engagement with said stud and comprising a knob of substantial size adapted for convenient grasping in shifting the holder and ruling guide members within a definite draftingvarea, said mounting portion being formed with a curved slot having a center of curvature coinciding with -said axis of. rotation, and said plate-like portion overlying and concealing said curved slot and having a stud opening in said plate-like portion spaced from said axis of rotation in position to register with said curved slot, said stud having a head underlying said mounting portion ADOLPH LANGSNER. 

